Ho Young Suk1, Han-Gyu Bae1, Dong-Young Kim1, Hari Won1, Hae Jun Baek2,3, Chang Hoon Lee2,3, Dong Youn Kim2, Young Min Go4, Jae-Young Song5, Hang Lee2, Mi-Sook Min6. 1. Department of Life Sciences, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-ro, Gyeongsan, 38541, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. 2. Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea. 3. National Institute of Ecology, Seocheon, 33657, Choongcheongnam-do, South Korea. 4. Jeju Amphibian Ecosystem Institute, Jeju, 26441, Jeju-do, South Korea. 5. National Park Research Institute, Korea National Park Service, Wonju, 26441, Gangwon-do, South Korea. 6. Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea. minbio@yahoo.co.kr.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The Korean Peninsula is a small but unique area showing great endemic Hynobius diversity with H. quelpaertensis, H. yangi, H. unisacculus and three species candidates (HC1, HC3 and HC4). H. quelpaertensis is distributed in the southern part and in Jeju Island, while the remaining species have extremely narrow distributions. OBJECTIVES: To examine the genetic structure of H. quelpaertensis and the phylogenetic placement in Hynobius. METHODS: Three mitochondrial and six microsatellite loci were genotyped for 204 Hynobius quelpaertensis, three H. leechii, three H. yangi, three HC1, two H. unisacculus, three HC3, three HC4 and ten Japanses H. lichenatus. RESULTS: A high level of mitochondrial diversity was found in H. quelpaertensis. Our mitochondrial data showed evidence of a historical link between inland and Jeju Island despite the signature of founder effect likely experienced by the early island populations. However, our microsatellite analysis showed the fairly clear signature of isolation history between in- and island populations. Upon phylogenetic analysis, H. quelpaertensis, H. unisacculus and HC1 formed a cluster, whereas H. yangi belonged to a separate cluster. HC3 and HC4 were clustered with either H. quelpaertensis or H. yangi depending on the locus used. CONCLUSION: Our results show at least partially the historical imprints engraved by dispersal of Korean endemic Hynobius during Pleistocene, potentially providing a fundamental basis in determining the conservation units and finding management strategies for these species.
BACKGROUND: The Korean Peninsula is a small but unique area showing great endemic Hynobius diversity with H. quelpaertensis, H. yangi, H. unisacculus and three species candidates (HC1, HC3 and HC4). H. quelpaertensis is distributed in the southern part and in Jeju Island, while the remaining species have extremely narrow distributions. OBJECTIVES: To examine the genetic structure of H. quelpaertensis and the phylogenetic placement in Hynobius. METHODS: Three mitochondrial and six microsatellite loci were genotyped for 204 Hynobius quelpaertensis, three H. leechii, three H. yangi, three HC1, two H. unisacculus, three HC3, three HC4 and ten Japanses H. lichenatus. RESULTS: A high level of mitochondrial diversity was found in H. quelpaertensis. Our mitochondrial data showed evidence of a historical link between inland and Jeju Island despite the signature of founder effect likely experienced by the early island populations. However, our microsatellite analysis showed the fairly clear signature of isolation history between in- and island populations. Upon phylogenetic analysis, H. quelpaertensis, H. unisacculus and HC1 formed a cluster, whereas H. yangi belonged to a separate cluster. HC3 and HC4 were clustered with either H. quelpaertensis or H. yangi depending on the locus used. CONCLUSION: Our results show at least partially the historical imprints engraved by dispersal of Korean endemic Hynobius during Pleistocene, potentially providing a fundamental basis in determining the conservation units and finding management strategies for these species.
Entities:
Keywords:
Hynobiidae; Hynobius quelpaertensis; Korean Peninsula; Microsatellites; Mitochondrial loci; Phylogeny